Wire straightener



H.- w. WEBB 1,847,454

WIRE STRA IGHTENER March 1, 1932.

Filed June 28, 1928 -ig Elm center fiQfw/Z 22 M Patented Mar. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARTWELL W. WEBB, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO A. CSPARK PL' UG COMPANY, v OF FLINT, MICHIGAN A COMPANY OF- MICHIGAN v 4 w ns srrmrenrnmm 'A' plicatien uled Jane 28,

This invention relates to wire straighteners and has particular reference-to a straightener adaptable for use in taking the bends, k nks etc., out of flexible cables or flexible shaftmg.

The wire straightener of the present invention is particularly adapted for use on the cablewinding machine disclosed and claimed in co-pending application, Serial No. 288,990,

. filed June 28, 1928. 1

The wire strai htener of the present nvention distinguis es over those of the prior art in that all of the dies of the straightener are adjustable at one time so that they may properly assume their relative interrelation to perform the function of wire straighten- -'ing. The structure of the invention comprises an inner core member provided with a single passage and'a plurality of transverse openings intersecting the longitudinal passages and a shell surrounding the core. Each transverse openin does not extend entirely through the core, ut stops short of one side I and in each opening there is positioned a die held from-the bottom by means of a coil spring. At diametrally opposite points on the inner periphery of the shell, there is provided a cam shaped groove in which the ends of the dies are adapted to rest. Each die has a wire receiving opening, and when these dies are positioned in the bottorn-most part of the cam groove, the die openings will be in alignment and permitthe insertion of the wire to be straightened through the core passage and the die openings. The core and shell are relatively rotatable and if the core is held and the shell rotated, it will cause each alter nate die to be projected inwardly of the core to cause the dle opening to assume the staggered relation or the operative position of the straightener.

At each die opening the core is provided with a transverse o emng into which extends a pin, the end of w ich projects slightly into the die opening. Each die has a groove conformable to the pin end. The purpose of this construction is to hold the dies in a definite relation or so that the axis of opening in the die" will always be parallel with the axes of and within the core passage 6 The core has extensions at both ends to 1928. Serial No. 288,991.

serve as bearings for thestraightener and at one of these ends there is secured a sheave by means of which the straightener is driven.

The core is provided with an opening in which there is placed a spring pressed pin which operates over a serrated are on the inner periphery of the shell. The purpose of this structure is to hold the shell and core in set position. This holding means however, is not of such a character as will prevent the relative rotation of the two for by the application of force to either, and the holding of the other, the pin end will 2 caused to ride over the serrated surfaces.

Suitable means is provided to limit the relative rotation of the core and the shell.

Referring to the drawin s: Figure 1 shows the straig itener at-side elevation in its operative position.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the '70 straightener taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the openings in the dies. in

alignment. 'Figure Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but with the outer shell rotated so as to cause the die to move inwardlyof the core.

Figures 5 and 6 are sections respectively on the liens 55 and 6 6 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the bed plate or frame of a suitable machine to which the bracket 12 is attached The bracket 12 is bifurcated and comprises the arms 14 and 16 reinforced by the spacer 85 rib 20. Between the arms 14 and 16 there is mounted the wire straightener 22 of the presj I 7 cut invention which is retained in the ball I bearings 24 and 26 positioned respectively in the ends of the arms 14 and 16. The straightener comprises the inner core member 28, the outer shell member 30 and the dies 32.

The core member 28 is provided with the opposite integral extensions 34 and 36 which project into and are supported by the bear,

The core 28 is provided with the central pas- 3 is a section on the-line 3 3 fg' v v I I sage 42 extending throughout its length, and in which passage the hollow terminal plugs 44 and 46 are mounted. The purpose of the plugs 44 and 46 is to guide the wire 48 as it enters and leaves the straightener. The

' core is further provided with the transverse openings 50 and in each opening there is mounted one of the dies 32. The openin s 50 do not extend entirely through the straightener, but terminate short of the opposite side as shown at 52. The inner end of the die is recessed as shown at 54, and within this recess and held at the bottom of the openings there is a coil spring 56 which always tends to urge the die 32 out of the opening and away from the core 28.

Each pin is provided with an opening 58 which tapers from the two sides as shown at 60, and has its narrowest portion at the center. The diameter of the narrow portion and the character of the taper will depend upon the width of the wire or flexible cable to be straightened.

As shown in Figures 2 to 6 inclusive, the shell closely surrounds the core 28. At diametrally opposite points the inner periphery 62 of the shell 30 is provided with cam groves 64, the purpose of which is to force the dies inwardly of the openings when the shell is rotated from the position shown in Figure 3 to that shown in Figure 4. The position in Figure 3 corresponds to that shown in Figure 2, from which it will be seen that all of the openings 58 in the dies 32 are in alignment and conform to the openings in the plugs 44 and 46 at the ends of the passage 42 of the core. In this position, the wire 48 may be readily inserted so that it will pass through the straightener. \Vhen the shell 30 is rotated so as to change its position relative to the core from that shown in Figure 3 to that shown in F gure 4, the openings 58 in the dies 32 will be staggered. That is, the dies shown in the upper portion of Figure 2 will be moved downwardly while the two dies in the lower-portion of the figure will be forced upwardly. It will therefore be apparent that the alternate openings 58 in the dies 32 will have a staggered relation. Each die 32 is provided with a longitudinal groove 66 for the. reception ofythe end 68 of a pin 70 which passes through an opening 71 in the core 28. The purpose of this construction is to assure the accurate positioning of each die 32 in its opening 50 so that the openings 58 in each die will align with and conform to the passage 42 in the core 28.

By referring to Figure 5, it will be. seen that the core 28 at one end is provided with a recess 72, in which there is received the hollow pin 74 having a knife edge 76 which ride-s over the serrated arc 78 on the inner periphery of the shell 30. Positioned in the bottom of the recess 7 2 and retained by the hollow pin 74 is a coil spring 80 which always tends to urge the pin 74 out of its opening and therefore keep the knife edge in mesh with the serrations on the are 78. The purpose of this structure is to hold the core and the shell in relative osition. The binding relation produced by t e pin is, however, not so great as to prevent the relative rotation of the core and shell, for by holding the shell with the hand and turning the core with the other, the pin" 74 will be caused to ride over the serrated are 78, and thereby allow the core and shell to assume a different relative position.

The shell 30 in Figure 6 is provided with an opening 81 preferably at its mid portion and in the core 28 beneath this opening there is a screw 82, the head of which extends beyond the cores circumference. Secured by the screw 82 at one of the cam surfaces 64 is an oval curved stop plate 84 having a slot 86 for the reception of the shank portion of the pin 82. As the end of the plate 84 reaches either the end of the cam 64 or the edge 87 of the opening 81, the relative movement of the core and shell will be prevented. The relative intermoverr ent between" the shell and core is therefore limited by the arc subtended by the radii passing through one of the extreme end positions of the plate 84 and the near end of the plate when i3 its other extreme position.

The shell 30 is somewhat shorter than the distance between the arms 14 and 16 of the bracket 12, and in order that there will be no rattle between the parts, the spacers or washers 94, 96 are used which spacers bear on the )uter periphery of the core 28. Washers or bearing rings 88 and 90 are positioned on the outer sides of the arms 14 and 16, and the sp cers and washers held together by means of suitable screw bolts 92.

The shell 30 is provided at its sides with the openings 98 the purpose of which is to allow the insertion of a pair of pliers to grip the wire 48 in case it should become clogged or wedged in the machine, and to permit the insertion and removal of the dies 32. By slightly shifting the shell longitudinallfy of the core, the dies 32 may be withdrawn rom the openings 98. To shift the shell 30 and core 28 longitudinally relative to each other, thescrew 82 and )late 84 in Figure 6 are removed which wil permit the shell readily to be slipped over either end of the core.

The assembly of the straightener is as follows: The springs 56 are first positioned at the bottom 52 of the openings 50 after which the dies 32 are positioned in the openings 50, the pin end 68 and the groove 66 determining the position of each die. The shel 30 is then laced between the arms 14 and 16 of the bracket 12 and the core 28 with its dies passed through the opening in either arm, and after the first pin reaches the shell, it will be pressed inward with the finger to allow the shell to pass thereover. After the shell has been passed over all the dies, the parts will allow the shell and core member held in their relative position by means serratedas shown in Figure 5. If desirechthe shell may be placed over the core and-the dies inserted through the openings 98. The assembly of the bearings, spacers and etc., is believed obvious. In their first position, the parts will be as shown in'Figure 2 when they will be adapted to receive the wire 48. If any difficulty is experienced in passin the wire through the openings 58, a pair of pliers may be inserted in the opening 98 to assist in passing the. wire from end plug 4% to the opposite end plug 46. After the wire has been passed through the core 28, the outer shell and the core will be relatively rotated from the position shown in Figure 3 to that shown in Figure 4, which will force the upper dies shown in Figure 2 downwardly and the lower dies upwardly to thereby give to the alternate dies a staggered relation. hen the straightener is driven from the sheave 40 and the Wire 48 pulled therethrough, it will be obvious that the staggered relation of the openings 58 in the dies 32 will cause a kneading of the flexible cable so as to take out any bends or kinks therefrom and produce a substantially smooth and uniform cable free of deformities. The passing of the cable through the straightener will also produce a slight elongation of the cable, due to its being straightened.

I claim:

1. In a wire straightener, an inner core having a passage, an outer shell surrounding said core and rotatable with reference thereto, and a plurality of members extending transversely of said passage and capable of relative adjustment to cause them to assume a staggered relation, said adjustment accomplished by the relative rotation of said core and shell.

2. The combination of claim 1, said members comprisingdies held in openings in said core.

The combination of claim 1, said members each having an opening conforming to the core passage which openings arepositioned in staggered relation in the operative position of said straightener.

4. In a wire straightener, an inner core, an outer shell surrounding said core and capable of movement relative thereto, said core having a central passage and a plurality of transverse openings intersecting the passage, a die in each opening, said dies retained by said shell, each die having an opening conforming to the passage, said dies adapted to be moved to place said die openings in staggered relation in said passage by the relative movement of said core and shell.

In a wire straightener, acore, a shell surrounding said core, said core and shell being relatively rotatable, a plurality of dies held by said core and shell to produce a straightening of the wire, and .(JBRIIS ositioned between said core and shell to old them in relative position. v

(3. In a wire straightener, an inner core,

an outer shell surrounding said core, said shell and core capable of relative rotation, said core having a central passage and a plurality of transverse openings intersectirg the passage; and a die in each opening, each die having an opening conforming to the passage, said dies adapted to be moved by the relative rotation of said core andshell to place said die openings in staggered relation in said passage.

7. In a wire straightener, an inner cert, an outer shell surrounding said core, said shell and core capable of relative movement, said core having a central passage and a plurality of transverse openings intersecting the passage and extending part way through the core, and a die in each opening, each die having an opening conforming to the passage, said dies adapted to be moved by the relative movement of said core and shell to place said die openings in staggered relation in said passage.

8. In a wire straightener, an inner core, an outer shell surrounding said core, said shell and core capable of relative movement, said core having a central passage and a plurality of transverse openings intersecting the passage extending part way only through said core, a die in each opening, and resilient.

means between the bottom of each opening and its die, each die having an opening conforming to the passage, said dies adapted to be moved by the relative movement of said core and shell to place said die openings in staggered relation in said passage.

9; In a wire straightener, an inner core, an

outer shell surrounding said core, said shell and core capable of relative movement, said core having a central passage and a plurality of transverse openings intersecting the passage, a die in each opening, each die having an opening conforming to the passage, said dies adapted to to be moved by the relative movement of said core and shell in one di rection to place said die openings in staggered relation in said passage, said dies ad -pted to be moved to place said die openings in alignment in said passage upon relative movement of said core and shell in the opposite direction. i

10. In a wire straightener, an inner core, an outer shell surrounding said core, said shell and core capable of relative movement, said core having a central passage and a plurality of transverse openings intersecting the passage, a die in each opening, each die having an opening conforming to the passage, said dies adapted to be moved by the relative movement of said core and shell to place said die openings in staggered relation in said die openings in staggered relation in said passage, a pin for each die passing through said core into each of said transverse openings,

and a groove in each die into which the pin end extends to retain each die in a definite relation in its opening.

12. In a wire straightener, an inner core, an outer shell surrounding said core, said shell and core capable of relative movement, said core having a central passage and a plurality of transverse openings intersecting the passage, a die in each opening, each die having an opening conforming to the passage, said dies adapted to be moved'by the relative movement of said core and shell-to place said die openings in staggered relation in said pas sage, said coreand shell having a plurality of conformableopenings at their circumferences to permit access to the wire.

13. In a wire straightener, an'inner core, an 5 outer shell surrounding said core, a plurality of 9am surfaces on the shell, an inner core,

said shell and core capable of relative move-' ment, said core having a central passage and a,

' their openings, said die openings adapted to be placed in staggered relation in said passage by said movement.

14. In a wire straightener, an innercore, an outer shell surrounding said core, said shell and core capable of relative movement, said core having a central passage and a plurality of transverse openings intersecting the pas sage, a die in each opening, each die having an opening conforming to the passage,

said shell having cam surfaces at diametrical- 'ity of wire straightening dies in sai sitioned between said core and shell to hold them in relative position.

, l6. In a wire straightener, a core, ashell surrounding said core, said core and shell being relatively rotatable, a plurality of dies held by said core and shell to produce a straighteni11 of the wire, a serrated arcuate port on 1n said core, and a spring pressed pin fitting in an opening in said core and operating over said serrated portion on the inside of said shell and positioned between said core and shell to hold them in relative position.

17. In a wire straightener, a core, a luralcore, and an outer shell over said core adapted to hold said dies in said core, said core and shell relatively rotatable to permit a change in the position of said dies.

1 18: In a wire straightener, a core, a pluralactuate said dies upon the relative rotation of said shell and core.

19. In a wire straightener, a core, a plurality of wire straightening dies in said core, an

outer shell over said core adapted to hold said dies in said core, said core and shell relatively rotatable to permit a change in the position of said dies, and means to limitthe said relative rotation. a

20. In a wire straightener, a core, a plurality of wire straightening dies in said-core, a shell around said core to retain said dies in said shell, said core and shell relatively rotatable, cam means on said shell adapted to actuate said dies upon the relative rotation of said shell and core, and means to limitthe said relative rotation.

bers and retained by the other member, re-

taining means on-one member and means on the othermember adapted to engage said retaining means to hold said members in relative interrelation. s "22. In awire straightener, two concentric relatively rotatable members, a plurality of dies in one of said members retained by the other member, aserrated arcuate portion on one of said members, and a pin on the other member adapted to engage said serrated portion to hold said members in relative interrelation.

23. In a wire straightener, two concentric relatively rotatable members, a plurality of dies in one of said members retained by the other member, a serrated are on one of said members and a spring pressed pin on the other member, a knife edge on said pin adapted to engage the said are to hold said members in relative interrelation.

24. In a wire straightener, a core having a 21. In a wire straightener, twoconcentric relatively rotatable members, a lurality of wire straightening dies in one 0 said mem- 1 plurality of circular openings, a plurality of cylindrical dies slidable in said openings, means to non-rotatably hold said dies in said openings, and common means to hold said dies in said core.

25. In a wire straightener, a core having a plurality of openings, a die in each opening, a shell around said core to hold said dies in said core, said core and shell relatively rotatable, and means on said shell to cause adjacent dies to move in opposite directions upon the relative rotation of said core and shell.

26. In a wire straightener, a core having a plurality of openings, a die in each opening, a shell around said core to hold said dies in said core, said core and shell relatively rotatable, and a plurality of cams on said shell to cause adjacent dies to move in op osite directions upon the relative rotation 0 said core and shell.

27. In a wire straightener, a hollow core having a plurality of lon itudinally arranged openings, a wire straig itening die in each opening, an outer shell over said core to hold said dies in said core, said core and shell relatively rotatable to cause a change in the position of said dies.

28. In a wire straightener, a core having a longitudinal passage therein and a plurality of lon itudinally arranged openings contained in a single plane and intersecting the passage, a wire straightening die in each opening, and an outer shell surrounding said core and holding all said dies in said core, said shell capable of rotary movement only.

29. In a wire straightener, a core having a longitudinal passage and a plurality of longitudinally arranged openings contained in a sin le plane and extending into the passage, eac opening extending short of the full width of the core and each opening extending into said core from a side opposite its next adjacent opening, a wire straightening die in each opening, and an outer shell to hold said dies in said openings.

30. In a wire straightener, a core having a longitudinal passage and a plurality of transverse openings, a wire straightening die slidable in each opening and extending across the assage, and an outer shell over said core to liold all said dies in position and revent their movement, said shell capable o rotary movement only.

31. In a wire straightener, a core having a longitudinal passage and a plurality of transverse openings, a wire straightening die slidable in each opening and extending across the passage, an outer shell over said core to hold said dies in position and prevent their movement, said core and shell being relatively movable to adjust the position of said dies.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

I-IARTVVELL IV. WEBB. 

